4 months

 McCrae is now 4 months old. I can't believe it. He is growing so fast. He is learning to use his arms and has become MUCH better at tummy time. He is going to be crawling before we know it!

He is very well-behaved and only cries if he is hungry. He even tolerates his Daddy making him look like the Pillsbury dough boy! It is so fun to watch him use his hands to grab things and stick them in his mouth. We are going to have to start baby proofing the house!

He loves bath time and has a bath before bed every night. He loves kicking his legs and gets really excited to flap around. He likes to chew on the washcloth but sometimes chokes on the water he sucks out of it. We are starting to try and give him a bit of a routine. He usually sleeps from about 10:30-5:30 am. At least, thats what the last couple weeks have shown... I pray every night that he keeps it up.

Having a baby is much more time-consuming than I ever thought possible.  I sometimes fight to put him to sleep and he makes me crazy, but once he is asleep in my arms, I forget about the battle we just had and am just so incredibly thankful that he is ours. He is such a beautiful baby and brings so much joy into our lives. We love watching him grow and pray that we may continue to be worthy of this incredible blessing.

 Happy 4 months!

Grandpa

Grandpa Egbert passed away on December 7th. I have never had anyone that close to me pass away. It's been an emotional few weeks, but I am happy to know that grandpa is at peace. The last week he spent in the hospital, I felt that he was already in heaven. I am sure that Heavenly Father welcomed him with open arms. Although he lived a long, wonderful life, he will be dearly missed. I know that I won't be seeing him for some time; I am just glad to know that I will be able to live with him forever. I am thankful for the time that I had with him here on Earth. I am thankful for my own father and his love, example, and testimony. I am forever thankful for eternal families. I love my family and can't imagine life without their love and support.

What a blessing to be able to have Grandpa be able to stand in the circle to bless McCrae only a few short weeks before his passing.

Grandpa's viewing was held on December 11th. It was hard, but it was nice to see so many friends and family come and support.

Apparently Grandma has been adding family members to the last Egbert family picture that was taken. She just tapes them right to the picture!

The funeral was the next day. Wow, it was rough. But at the same time, it was so neat to feel the unity we share as a family. 

My dad gave a beautiful talk and all of the grandkids were able to sing a couple songs together. It was a terrible idea, I thought (due to the fact that most of us sobbed our way through it), but my mom said that it was incredible to see Grandpa Egbert's legacy on the stand. We must have been quite a sight.

Afterword, we went to the cemetery. I debated taking pictures, but the gun salute was awesome. Grandpa served in the Navy and he would have loved it!

They presented Grandma with the flag that lay over the casket. It was a pretty inspirational moment.

The Egbert legacy lives on.

It was a hard day, but it was so nice to be able to spend it together. We have quite a support system with all these crazy people. I am so happy to know that we will be able to live together forever. Because of the sacrifice Jesus gave to us all, we will not only be able to live with Grandpa and our entire family, but with our Heavenly Father as well. What a special time of year... to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Until we meet again.

Thanksgiving

I can't believe  it...I have so much to be thankful for this year. First of all, the addition of McCrae to our family has changed us forever. He is perfect. Heavenly Father blessed us with one of the best. He is such a good baby, and although has caused us many sleepless nights, we couldn't be happier. Life has so much more meaning. Raising him is such a joy.  When I looked at his sweet face Thanksgiving morning I couldn't help but cry.  My heart was so full.

About two weeks ago, Grandpa Egbert collapsed at Aunt Jan's house due to an irregular heartbeat. He was rushed to the hospital and has been in the ICU. They fixed his heart for now, but he may have aspirated during all of the trauma and he has spent time being intubated, and a lot of time on BiPAP because his CO2 levels are dangerously high. I couldn't get myself to go and visit him while he was intubated, but since he ended up pulling his own tube and started breathing on his own, I decided I should go see him.  McCrae and I went with Julianne and Garrett the day before Thanksgiving. We had heard rumors that they may transfer him to the floor, but when we got there, they had him back on the BiPAP. He was trying so hard to talk to us… Although he looked better than I thought he would, it was heartbreaking. Julianne and I stood there, on either side of the bed, holding his hands and holding back tears. We asked him to stop talking… It was only exhausting him. But mentally, he is sharp as a tack... It's hard for him to be confined to a bed. He knows there are years ahead of him and he wants out! We have been praying and fasting for him. It has been really hard watching my dad be so emotional. Although grandpa has lived a long, wonderful 86 years, he is still my Dad's Dad. I pray that grandpa may not be in pain, and if it be Heavenly Father's will, he will allow him to stay with us a bit longer.

When Julianne and I left the hospital room, we met Garrett and McCrae out in the lobby. Seeing McCrae's perfect little face made me well up with tears all over again. It was a crazy thought to think that grandpa's life maybe ending, and this beautiful baby's is only beginning. What a wonderful plan our Father in Heaven has for us. Regardless of what happens, Grandpa's body will one day return to its perfect form. I have such a testimony of the Plan of Salvation and know that it is truly a plan of happiness. I am so thankful for this knowledge, and pray that I will have the faith to recognize the Lord's hand in my life, regardless of what happens.

A couple days before Thanksgiving, McCrae and I were in a car accident. We were rear-ended by an old man who didn't see that we were stopped. I don't think he could see much of anything, really. He was going full speed. When we were hit, McCrae immediately started crying, so I pulled over and ran out of the car to check on him… When he saw my face, he gave me a huge smile. Wow, I felt so lucky. I was more traumatized than he was. There happened to be a policeman right at the intersection and he pulled right over. I was very upset, seeing as how I had a new baby in the car. But as I sat in the back seat feeding McCrae a bottle while the policeman did the paperwork, I couldn't help but count my blessings. We were both okay, there was a policeman right on scene, and I'm pretty sure, if we hadn't been there to stop the old man, he would have raced right into the intersection, possibly killing someone. Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for us that day.... and every day. I truly felt so blessed.

Jon and Jenny's family came in town for Thanksgiving. It was so fun to have them. Rylee was baptized while she was here. It was such a special night. I read (or attempted to read) a letter from Marissa. She wrote about baptism and covenants and the importance of staying active in the church and keeping those promises that you made with the Lord in order to return with him again someday. I had a hard time getting through it without bawling, but it was really neat. Rylee was listening so intently. It was so cute.

Thanksgiving day was a wonderful day. I didn't go skiing this year since I had a nursing baby, but it was a wonderful day all the same. Conner went mountain biking in the morning, and then we went to my moms for dinner that afternoon. Grandma Egbert came down with Aunt Jan. Grandma has seemed like a good sport through it all… We wonder how much she understands, but she understands enough. We are hoping that she and grandpa both will be able to go into an assisted living home when grandpa gets better. We had the whole Egbert family… All of my siblings except for Marissa who is on her mission. Everything was delicious! (Grammy wanted to show off her turkey she made to go on the piano at the school where she plays...She had to one up Marissa's turkey. Ha ha.)

 The decor. My mom worked so hard. It was beautiful.

 Before Papa came running...

 Grammy playing Christmas songs by request. She's amazing.

 Post-dinner activity-apple turkeys!

 Jon, entertaining the crowd with his David Lanz skills.

There was a wonderful surprise after dinner… Julianne and Garrett announced that they will be having a baby next summer. What a surprise! I am so happy. McCrae and their little one will be less than a year apart.

Happy Birthday Conner

Happy 28th birthday to Conner! He requested oatmeal, eggs, and bacon for a birthday breakfast. He's lucky I was awake enough to make it. McCrae has been sleeping a little better so Conner is happy I am a little more alive in the morning. Conner doesn't get quite as excited about his birthday as I do about mine, but it was a nice day nonetheless.

He just worked a half-day, then we met his parents for lunch. That night, we dropped McCrae off with Julianne and Garrett who were in town for Thanksgiving, and we went out to dinner at Market Street. Yum! Conner was very happy with his "gym-themed" gifts this year: socks, a pull-up bar, mountain biking shorts, new gym shoes, and a one-month membership to Cross-Fit (thanks to citydeals.com). He's one spoiled boy. Happy Birthday Conner. We love you so much.